Abstract: A wave gutter for swimming pools that automatically positions and maintains a longitudinal edge of the gutter, relative to the waterline, for optimum control of waves and other surface disturbances created by persons in the pool includes a wall member, fabricated to be buoyant in water, that is hingedly attached to a sidewall of the pool. The wall member is free to pivot about an axis that is proximate to and parallel with one of a pair of longitudinal edges of the wall member. This freedom, together with the buoyancy of the wall member, allows the other longitudinal edge to be situated substantially at the waterline for the most efficient wave damping capability.